The Dragon's Shield

In a cave surrounded by cold water mingled with freezing fire, there lived a man, half-human and half-dragon. That day, the air was heavy with anticipation, for he had a most honored guest arriving in his realm. The man, clad in a black cloak with a golden-hooded cape, sat before a glowing crystal ball on a sturdy wooden table. This was Valtheris, a seer who was reading the future for his guest.

Before him stood a man radiating power and authority. With short silver hair and golden armor, he was a king both revered and feared. His name was Kaelron, the newly crowned Dragon King, famous for his extraordinary strength.

"Your soulmate," Valtheris spoke in a deep voice, "is a woman with unimaginable strength and beauty. Every man will bow to her charms, but they will fear her power. Only you, my King, will be able to win her heart."

Kaelron's sharp blue eyes narrowed, his anger flashing in his gaze. His voice thundered, like a rumble of thunder, as he spoke. "How dare you feed me such lies, seer!"

Valtheris lowered his head, but his voice remained calm. "I would never lie, Your Majesty. Everything I say comes from the crystal ball, not from my own words."

Kaelron clenched his fist, impatience clear in his demeanor. "Valtheris! I came here to inquire about tonight's mission to the human world, not to hear useless prophecies!"

The seer, who had served in the Dragon Kingdom for centuries, remained unfazed by the wrath of his king. Kaelron was a strong and enigmatic ruler. In his dragon form, he was a white dragon with glowing blue eyes and blue fire capable of consuming everything in its path.

Elsewhere in the kingdom, Kaelron's uncle, Eryndor, was busy preparing the dragon army for the mission that night. With shoulder-length golden hair and dark red armor, Eryndor exuded pride and arrogance. As the prime minister of the Dragon Kingdom, Eryndor frequently opposed Kaelron's decisions. However, the king allowed it, as long as it did not harm the kingdom.

That night, the dragons prepared for their mission: to retrieve magma stones from the heart of the largest volcano in the human world. These stones were vital to the Dragon Kingdom. If not taken in time, the volcano could erupt, destroying the human world and disrupting the balance of the dragon world.

On the other side of the mountain, a young woman named Lynaria was collecting firewood. Her long, silver hair shimmered in the dark, and the simplicity of her gown only highlighted her natural beauty. Lynaria was known as a strong woman who was unafraid of challenges.

"If it weren't for the rain earlier, I'd be at home by now," she muttered while gathering wood. "But here I am, in the middle of this dark night."

Lynaria had led a hard life. Orphaned as a child, she lived with a cruel foster family. Yet, her spirit remained unbroken.

Suddenly, the sound of dragon wings thundered through the night sky. Lynaria followed the dragons to the peak of the mountain, where she saw them entering the volcano's crater. As she watched, an old dragon noticed her presence and chased her down to the village.

When the dragon attacked, Lynaria stepped forward bravely, wielding her dagger. Though she managed to wound the dragon, she was soon in great danger when the beast exhaled fire. But before the flames could reach her, a white dragon leaped in front of her, shielding her with its body.

After driving the old dragon away, the white dragon transformed into a man with white hair and mesmerizing blue eyes.

"Are you alright?" the man asked, introducing himself as Draeven.

They were both captivated by each other, but before Lynaria could thank him, Draeven shifted back into a dragon and flew off. However, Lynaria was not deterred. She used tracking powder to follow his trail.

"I will find you," she said with unwavering determination.

Lynaria's journey took her across mountains, forests, and seas. After weeks of enduring harsh terrain, she finally arrived at a castle perched atop a rocky cliff. Despite her exhaustion, Lynaria made her way to the castle, only to be immediately captured by the guards.

When Kaelron heard that a human prisoner had been brought in, he came to inspect her personally. Upon seeing Lynaria, surprise crossed his face.

"You? How did you get here?" Kaelron asked, his eyes filled with suspicion.